31:001
Elementary Psychology
Fall 2014
Professor Vecera
Memory 1(STM)
I.IntroductionandaDemonstration
Can you become a memory expert? There are cases of individuals with exceptional
memories, and well first discuss theconsequences of such cases. Then well

31:001
Elementary Psychology
Professor Vecera
Fall 2014
Language
I.PropertiesandPartsofLanguage
Unlike the communication exhibited by other animals, human language is much
more flexible.
We would not have the society andtechnology that we have without lan

31:001
Elementary Psychology
Fall 2014
Professor Vecera
Social Development
I. Vygotskys Theory of Cognitive Development
Vygotsky differs from Piaget in one major way: Piaget (and many others) tend to focus only
on the child as the
main factor in developme

31:001
2014
Elementary Psychology
Fall
Professor Vecera
Social Psychology I & II
I. How can we be controlled?
An overview of some classic cases of brainwashing in cult membershiphow
individuals conformed
to a larger (dubious) group.
CharlesMason
a. Group

31:001
Elementary Psychology
Fall 2014
Professor Vecera
Development 1
I.Introduction
o Development psychology is about child psychology (from infants to young
children)
o But development occurs throughout our lives. We want to know how mental
and social

31:001
Elementary Psychology
Fall 2014
Professor Vecera
Lecture
Sensation and Perception 1
I. What Does This Have to do With Psychology?
Consider what youre experiencing right nowmuch of it is tied to your sensations and
perceptions, such as what youre se

31:001
2014
Elementary Psychology
Fall
Professor Vecera
Consciousness & Attention
I. What is Consciousness?
William James:
defined psychology as the description and explanation of states of consciousness as such. So, some
would argue that psychology is th

31:001
Elementary Psychology
Fall 2014
Professor Vecera
Visual Perception
I. Vision
A. Transduction
After light rays are focused on the retina, transduction occurs by the rods and cones. Once
we have the image
focused, we can transduce the photons into ne

Consciousness and Attention
What is Consciousness?
William James:
Defined psychology as the description and explanation of states of consciousness
Two aspects of consciousness:
1. monitoring ourselves and our external environment so that we can
be aware o